Man, 28, faces multiple felony charges after leading police on chase

A 28-year-old man suspected of burglary faces multiple felony charges after he led police on a chase through two communities before officers disabled his vehicle, police said Friday.

Ryan Earl Leavitt, of Chesaning, is scheduled for arraignment Friday in New Baltimore’s 42-2 District Court on charges second-degree home invasion, a 15-year felony; and possession of analogues (drugs), a 2-year felony.

Leavitt could face additional charges associated with the chase, which began in Macomb Township and culminated in Chesterfield Township, not far from the site of the burglary, police said. He also faces charges as a parole absconder and is wanted on a burglary warrant by authorities in Burton, near Flint.

The incident that led to Leavitt’s arrest occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday when Chesterfield Township police were notified of a residential burglary in progress on 21 Mile Road, east of Gratiot.

The caller described to police a description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving, a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. Authorities issued a “be-on-the-lookout” alert, police said.

A short time later, a deputy from the Macomb County Sheriff Department spotted a vehicle matching the description near 21 Mile and Romeo Plank roads, police said. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and fled.

According to police accounts, the subsequent chase led through residential neighborhoods in Macomb Township, back onto 21 Mile Road, through strip malls and eventually back to 21 Mile and Fairchild roads, where Chesterfield Township Officer Chris Swanson deployed “stop sticks” that flattened two tires on the suspect’s vehicle.

Despite the flat tires, police said, the driver continued to try to elude officers. The chase ended on the northwest corner of 21 Mile Road and Gratiot when another Chesterfield Township police officer, Sgt. Ken Franks, collided with the fleeing vehicle. Leavitt was then taken into custody.

Police recovered from the suspect’s vehicle coins, jewelry, checks, identification and medications that were the property of the burglary victims.